Spinal Tumor Treatment: Radiofrequency Ablation
Ablation is the treatment of tissue at sites within the body using heat or extreme cold. Heat-based ablation is performed using radiofrequency (RF) energy and is known as radiofrequency (RF) ablation. Cryoablation refers to ablation that uses extreme cold to freeze and destroy compromised, or pathologic, tissue.
RF ablation techniques are commonly used to treat tumors and various conditions in the heart, lungs, kidneys, breast, liver, and various other sites throughout the body. Because RF energy does not directly stimulate nerves or muscles, as do many other types of energy, RF ablation affords patients an opportunity to undergo minimally invasive spine procedures that can be performed using only local anesthesia.
How is ablation used to treat a metastatic spinal tumor?
RF energy is delivered directly into the metastatic spinal tumor to heat and destroy the tumor cells. With the tumor ablated, the space once occupied by the tumor may need to be reconstructed to stabilize the vertebra(e). Minimal post-operative radiation treatments may also be needed to destroy remaining cancerous cells within the vertebrae.
Physicians' insights on RF Ablation
STAR Tumor Ablation Procedure